The tragedy in Washington DC left the country shaken. However, certain people didn’t have the luxury to delve into those feelings. They, as per Charles Barkley, had the most difficult job to do in a very heartbreaking situation. The Steam Room returned this week, and as always, Chuck opened the show by remembering all the losses that hit him. He and Ernie Johnson had heartfelt condolences for the families of the 67 victims. But he also took a moment to thank the people who ensured the victims went back to their families.

Speaking to one of the victims whose stories struck a chord – Asra Hussain on board the American Airlines aircraft who sent a text to her husband moments before the crash – the Phoenix Suns no. 34 said, “You just never know when you never going to see your family and your friends again. And it just hurt me.” 

An American Airlines plane with 60 passengers and four crew on board collided in midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers near Reagan National Airport on January 29, President Donald Trump confirmed as of Friday there are no survivors in the crash. The immediate focus was finding the victims. Sir Charles was especially grateful to the divers who had to be the bearer of bad news.

“I want to give a thought to the divers who have to go into that cold, dangerous water to try to get those bodies,” Chuck said. “This is really dangerous but those guys, man, people we never acknowledge or meet are diving into a cold river looking for dead bodies. And it’s dark, and it;s cold. And so I just want to give those guys a shout-out, man.” 

The player-turned-analyst, Charles Barkley, further ended this message with heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, stating, “Just thoughts and prayers to the people involved.” 

Leave it to Sir Charles for remembering the unsung heroes who get us through this tragedy.

Search for victims takes a toll

After the mid-air collision, the plane and the helicopter dropped into the Potomac River. Over 300 first responders were at the scene, including teams of divers and two U.S. Coast Guard cutters. The divers dived into icy waters to look for survivors, but couldn’t save any. A bone-chilling incident, which is now considered one of the deadliest aviation disasters in US history.

It was initially a rescue operation. But after at least 28 bodies were pulled out of the river, it was switched into a recovery operation. The toll rose to 40 during the day, before the president confirmed that all 64 passengers on the American Airlines flight had perished. Sadly, all three soldiers were in the helicopter.

The divers also recovered black boxes from the plane and helicopter. Investigations are underway, but aviation disaster reports usually take months.

“This is incredibly unusual. You know, we’re trained and always ready to answer the call…when the dive call comes in. But that’s typically involving one victim. And in rare occasions, a couple of victims,” Jake Crockett, a firefighter and diver with the Scuba Rescue Team of Chesterfield Fire & EMS told the media. “But something of this magnitude, you know, having 67 people to account for, along with two aircraft and all the debris is just it’s incredibly out of the ordinary. It’s something that, no doubt, none of them nor myself could have predicted.”

Charles Barkley, who believes jobs such as these divers among teaching and nurses are real jobs, can understand how it feels without being in their shoes. In a difficult time, he’s one of the few who acknowledge the ones who are in the tougher position.